How to Become a Detective for Kids

It's a sad but true fact of life that law enforcement professionals are currently dealing with more child-related crimes than any time in our history. The list of offenses is troubling. From abducted babies to missing youngsters and kids abandoned by irresponsible parents, the variety of child-centered cases is the stuff of which headlines are made. Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. Young children are being convicted of major crimes. Headlines shout details of school shootings, murdered family members and even narcotics trafficking. Many of these crimes are the result of gang activity, but for law enforcement professionals committed to solving juvenile crimes, the goal isn't just stopping offenders -- it's rehabilitating them, too. Law enforcement professionals often say that mending kids is the hardest work on earth, but if you have compassion and believe that every child is worth saving, this could be your professional calling.

Instructions

Law Enforcement

1. Get a degree as you'll be competing with degreed individuals. Major in criminal justice or child psychology; minor in the second so you are well-grounded in the field of child behavior. Attend the police academy. Certification from a police academy plus a degree can help speed the advancement of anyone wishing to earn their generalist credentials before moving into the field of juvenile law enforcement.

2. Get experience in the field of juvenile crime. Every law enforcement agency has specific recruitment needs and rules. Sample various departments by visiting agency websites. Once you land an interview, ask whether or not the agency has committed resources to targeting juvenile crime. Not all do. Tight staff numbers and overly-burdened budgets may mean that staffers have no specialties and work on a variety of cases.

3. Advance through the ranks to gain experience in multiple departments and squads. Sampling narcotics, missing persons, homicide, vice and more provides invaluable training since all of these overlap juvenile crimes. As you advance, you'll be given opportunities to take your detective exam. Pass and you can apply for juvenile crime unit job openings as a detective.

Military

1. Advise your recruiter of your interest in law enforcement. The time to strike a deal to get your choice of assignments is at the recruitment stage. Be sure to let your recruiter know also of any college credits in criminal justice as this will help you get a military law enforcement assignment.

2. Serve your tour and receive military police training. Show your interest in kids by volunteering to work with them during your service years.

3. Be aware that all branches of law enforcement recruit for experienced, trained staff for juvenile crime. Apply to police, sheriff, FBI and comparable state-based agencies. Make certain there's either a specific juvenile crime division to which you can transition or request placement in units that handle child-related crimes. Take your detective exam as soon as you are qualified to do so.

Private Detective

1. Gain experience as an employee for an agency before you go off on your own. Be certain the agency you choose is familiar with and has handled cases that involve child recovery and other juvenile-specific problems. If you have military or police background, it will be a significant advantage in getting hired at an agency.

2. Get your license. Every state requires private detectives to be licensed. Expect to take written exams and be tested on weapon use and other skills. You may need to get security clearances. Register your credentials with databases that allow licensed private detectives to do criminal background checks and find confidential information not available to the general public.

3. Become self-employed. While you'll get more work if you launch your solo career as a generalist, there's plenty of child-related work at which you can specialize. Your typical case load could include tracking down missing kids, working to extradite children from abroad after non-custodial parents flee without permission, helping parents regain custody of children in foster care and doing investigative work on behalf of parents and schools to get to the heart of child-related felonies and misdemeanors.

Resources

• Find top Criminal Justice schools here